Vehicle Accessory Control Circuit Board Deviations

Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle accessory control interfaces face challenges in accommodating increasing numbers of accessories and features, leading to complexity and difficulty in design, manufacturing, and maintaining a visually appealing and intuitive interface for operators.

Innovation Solution

The use of strategically arranged printed circuit boards with a common overall perimeter shape and deviations to differentiate between various vehicle configurations, allowing for flexible and cost-effective design and manufacturing, while maintaining a consistent layout and reducing complexity through modular components and flexible ribbon cable connectors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of vehicle accessories and features is increased, then the functionality and versatility of the control interface is improved, but the device complexity and design difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control interface is divided into multiple control assemblies, each responsible for specific accessories or functions. Each assembly contains its own circuit board with circuit elements arranged in deviations from a common outer edge profile. This segmentation allows independent design and manufacturing of each assembly while maintaining overall system versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A common outer edge profile is established for circuit board substrates across different control assemblies. This universal interface allows the same basic substrate design to be used across multiple assemblies, while deviations from the profile enable customization for specific vehicle configurations and accessory combinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If more control elements and circuit connections are added, then the comprehensiveness of the control interface is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecomprehensivenessVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The control interface is divided into multiple control assemblies, each responsible for specific accessories or functions. Each assembly contains its own circuit board with circuit elements arranged in deviations from a common outer edge profile. This segmentation allows independent design and manufacturing of each assembly while maintaining overall system versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Circuit elements on the circuit board are arranged in specific deviations from a common outer edge profile. These deviations serve as configurable parameters that can be adjusted based on the vehicle arrangement and accessory requirements, allowing the same basic substrate design to be adapted for different configurations without redesigning the entire board.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the control interface is made more comprehensive, then the functionality is improved, but the ease of operation and visual appeal may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecomprehensivenessVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control interface is divided into multiple control assemblies, each responsible for specific accessories or functions. Each assembly contains its own circuit board with circuit elements arranged in deviations from a common outer edge profile. This segmentation allows independent design and manufacturing of each assembly while maintaining overall system versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9538589B2Vehicle accessory control arrangement

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 UUSI NARTRON

AI summary

An illustrative inventory of vehicle accessory control components includes a plurality of first circuit boards and a plurality of second circuit boards. The first circuit boards each have a substrate with a plurality of circuit elements supported on the substrate. The first circuit board substrates have an overall perimeter shape including an outer edge profile and a plurality of first deviations from the outer edge profile. The second circuit boards each have a substrate with a plurality of circuit elements supported on them. The second circuit board substrates have the overall perimeter shape including the same outer edge profile as the first circuit board substrates. The second circuit board substrates include a plurality of second deviations from the outer edge profile. At least one portion of the second deviations is different than the first deviations of the first circuit boards.